La Sera - Break My Heart

Sic Alps - Glyphs

This is Pop Download-o-rama

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Now this is the kind of project I can get behind. I encourage all Everything is Pop readers to consider backing this. The Rural Alberta Advantage is a talented group of musicians who deserve kudos for exploring innovative ideas like this one. (Via kickstarter.com)

About this projectHello. We are the Rural Alberta Advantage (myspace.com/theraa). We're a band out of Canada, and for quite a while, we were happily making music for ourselves and touring our home country once in a while. Then all of a sudden, our record Hometowns caught the attention of some really awesome people, and now we're signed to Saddle Creek Records.

It's an interesting time for us. We've signed to a label, Hometowns comes out July 7th on that label, and every day seems to bring more exciting opportunities that didn't seem possible even a few short months ago. At the same time, the whole journey up to this point has been such a grassroots kind of thing, driven primarily by the attention of online music lovers, that we can't quite believe what's happened, even though the slow build of it has seemed almost natural.

We wanted to find some kind of way to signify the end of the 'organic' way our music has been reaching people (we love Saddle Creek like crazy, but they are a real live label, so we can't exactly do it all by ourselves anymore) and celebrate the awesomeness of all the people that helped us reach this level of success. So, we decided to do one last grand DIY gesture and make a 7" record through Kickstarter. We want to make it special and kind of exclusive, so it will be limited to just 300 copies.

There will be two songs on it, reimagined, remixed versions of "Frank, AB" and "The Deadroads" (original versions of both are on Hometowns). We have had a great time meeting and getting to know the people who have been enjoying and championing our music, and we really want to get this project in the hands of those who have been so influential on our crazy journey.

Money covers cost of pressing the vinyl, the artwork, recording, mixing, and shipping. 15 bucks gets you a copy, and if you want to donate more you'll be receiving special surprises from us. Like a private concert! (maybe???)

3 comments:

I love this sort of gesture from a band. Not only is it a marking of a milestone for the band, but more importantly, an acknowledgment that the support they received from fans is what made it that milestone possible. And at cost, to boot. Well done, RAA!

Aw! That's really really so awesome of them to something like this. I only heard of The RRA a couple of months ago, but I've been enjoying their music on quite a massive scale, and even though I'm never going to get my hands on this pice of vinyl, the gesture alone makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Yet another reason to fall madly in love with Canadian musicians =)

Barb - Honestly I think its the new market model for music. Smart bands are realizing that a grass roots connection to the fans is the surest path to success. Spoil and endear the fans to your band and build on that. I for one will definitely support RAA on this effort. I just love it when a band does it right.

BAP - I think its terrific that you continue to show the love to the Canadian bands like you do. (Now THAT makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.) But I sure do agree. With bands as great as this one they make it easy!

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I am a systems analyst who often longs to be doing something else. Not that working with computers all day is a bad thing; listening to music all day is just a far better thing. My passion for said music, film and family are constants that I devote a considerable part of my being to. I've also been known to enjoy a good concert or book. Best of all, I love to spend time with my extraordinary thirteen year old son, Jack.